Kai stood there in the middle of Lyra's treehouse, shirtless and feeling the cool night air brush across his skin, while the elf scout stared at him as if he had just grown a second head.
Her green eyes were wide, her long white hair slightly messy from how many times she had run her fingers through it in frustration, and the soft glow from the silver leaves outside painted everything in a gentle, almost magical light.
He could see the way her chest rose and fell a little faster than before, the leather of her armour creaking faintly with each breath, and for the first time since she had marched him here, he felt something warm and real bloom in his chest.
'Man, she's actually cute when she's this flustered,' he thought, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips.
'Not just hot, cute. Like she's fighting so hard to stay mad, but her ears keep twitching every time I open my mouth.'
He took one slow step closer, careful not to crowd her too quickly, and tilted his head.
